Sudden death of De Villota sends F1 into mourning

De Villota, who lost an eye testing for Marussia last year,
concentrated on pushing the cause of women in motor racingAP

Formula One was in a state of shock last night after the death of María de Villota, the former Marussia test driver who lost an eye in an accident in Britain last year.

Fernando Alonso, a fellow Spaniard, was stunned after he was given the news as he emerged from the cockpit of his Ferrari immediately after practice for the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. Word quickly spread through the paddock that De Villota, 33, had been found dead in an hotel room in Seville after a suspected heart attack.

Marussia were in touch with the De Villota family as darkness descended on the Suzuka track before issuing a short statement, which said: “It is with great sadness that we learnt a short time ago…